The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-05-25
THE BOX IN THE CORNER

1t is some years since 1 was station
master, baggage-agent, telegraph-oper-
ator and ticket-seller at little village near
some valuable oil wells. The station house
was quite distance from the unpre-
tentious thoroughfare that had grown up
In day, and my duties were so arduous
that had scarcely leisure for weekly
Hitting to certain mansion on the hill
where dwelt Ellen Morris, my promised
wife. In fact, it was with the hope of
lessening the distance between us that
had undertaken these quadruple duties.
The day had been gloomy, and toward
the afternoon ominous rolls of thunder
pretended q storm.
Colonel Holloway, the well-known
treasurer OF the oil company, had been in
the village several days. About one
o'clock he came hurriedly into the office
with package, which he laid upon my
desk, saying:
"Take care of that, Bowen, till to-
morrow. Pm going up the road"
The commission was not an unusual
one, and my safe was one of Marvin's
best. Icounted the money, which footed
up into the thousands, placed it in the
official envelope, affixed the seals, and
deposited it in the safe. As l turned
away from the lock, voice at the door
said:
'Say, mister, can you tell me the way
to the post-office"
A sort of shock went through me at
the unexpected presence that seemed to
have dropped down from nowhere, and |
replied, irritably:
"You could not miss it if you tried
Keep straight ahead"
Soon large drops of rain came down
then faster and more furiously, until
the air was one vast sheet of water,
and little rivers leaped madly along the
gullles and culverts. Forked lightning
kept pace with the pealing thunder, and
heavens own artillery seemed let loose.
Anything more dismal or dreary could
not well be imagined, and gradually the
loneliness grew oppressive. Every strag-
gler had fled to shelter, and the usual
idlers had deserted the platform. But
resolutely set to work at the dry statistics
of the station-books, with an occasional
call to the wires, which were ticking like
mad, so fierce was the electric current.
1t was near five O'clock when long
freight train came lumb mbering by, switched
of car or two, then dragged its slow
length onward. This created brief di-
version, then once more ] was deserted.
The next passenger train was not due
till ten o'clock lit the lamps and re-
signed myself with questionable patience
to the intervening hours. An agreeable
interruption came in the form of my
supper, which was brought in a water
proof basket by sort of jack-at-all-
trades whom we called Jake. Shaking
himself like a great dog, he "'lowed
there want much more water left up
yonder nohow."
81 hope not, indeed" I said, glad of
the sound of human voice. "Jakem
called, as he left the office, ''come
back as soon as you can-I may want
you"
1 had a vague idea of dispatching
some sort of report to Ellen that had
not been entirely washed away, and OBJ
tanning similar comfort as to her own
fate. little thought l should really
need him.
l think l am not by nature more
timid than other men, but as the dis
NAL evening closed in l took from my
desk two revolvers kept ready for pos
sible emergencies, and laid one upon the
desk where | was making freight en-
tries, and the other on the table where
the electric battery stood. At inter
walls a fresh package for the night eX-
press was brought by some dripping
carrier, who deposited it, got his re-
ceipt, hung about for a few moments,
then hastened away to more comfort
able quarters.
Still the rain poured in torrents. 1t
must have been nearly nine o'clock
when a wagon, hurriedly driven, sud
denly stopped at the platform. In a mo
ment the door was flung open, aud l saw
small ambulance well known about the
village. Two men sprang out, and, with
the aid of the driver and his assistant,
proceeded to lift out box which from its